Child care programs are experiencing significant increases in business costs, prompting them to raise tuition to remain operational. Public funding has not kept pace with inflation, resulting in these costs being passed on to families who often cannot afford the hikes. A new report by the National Association highlights this trend across the industry.
Key Points
- Business costs for child care are rising markedly
- Public funding fails to match inflation, leading to tuition increases
- Families bear the burden, exacerbating affordability issues
Implications for Educational Freedom
Rising child care costs underscore the limitations of government funding in early education, potentially strengthening arguments for education savings accounts (ESAs) or vouchers to empower parents with more choices. This could enhance parental rights by allowing families to select affordable, high-quality options outside traditional public systems.
Source: As business costs rise, child care programs are increasing tuition to survive